Brown algae in Ca reactor ?

FISHme · 04-27-2003, 04:49 PM

Does anyone get this .
I'm wondering if the reactor is working properly if this is happening.
I dose pickling lime 24-7 along with the Korralin c 1501 .
It is not located under a closed stand, it gets alot of direct light . Could this be the reason or could it be something else ?

smpolyp · 04-27-2003, 10:54 PM

When you say brown algae I think diatom algae. Diatom algae uses silicate to build its building structure. My best quess is your media has silicates and with the lower ph and direct light the diatoms are in heaven. I would think as long as the algae eats up the excess silicates it is helping to keep the tank from getting it.

**scubadude** · 04-27-2003, 11:08 PM

Makes sense to me Russ.....Correct me if im wrong bro, but if a Calc. reactor is working correctly then the chemistry is ideal for NOT growing algae in because of the PH?

Mark

What type of media are you using? Have you measured the PH of your effluent?

FISHme · 04-27-2003, 11:59 PM

Rocky, I was using ARM but switched to Carib Sea Eco Marine Aragonite this past time (being cheap)

Crushed coral.
I didn't check the effluent recently but I did check the water in the reactor when I opened it and it was at 7.13
The tank runs 8.20 to 8.48.
I cleaned it out and refilled it today . I might have to switch back to ARM next refill.
Otherwise the corals are growing fine.
Thanks for the replies guys !!!

ADS · 04-29-2003, 07:49 PM

Where is the reactor supply coming from? If your feed is from the tank
directly prior to sump or skimmer you are seeding your reactor with microalgae/diatoms. I had this problem and changed the supply line to the sump thru a prefilter and the problem has not recurred. Adam

FISHme · 04-29-2003, 11:38 PM

Thanks for the tip Adam. Yes, I am getting the return from one of the overflows from the tank . Good call !!!!

I will try getting the return from the sump.
Do you use a powerhead to feed your intake to the reactor ?
I suppose I will need to do this.
Thanks for the reply .

ADS · 04-30-2003, 08:19 AM

yes,I use an hagen 802 powerhead to feed a Korallin 3002. Adam

organicreefer · 04-30-2003, 07:26 PM

fishme -ive though this a bunch of times in the past -and no offense-but you NEED TO GET A BETTER CAMER!!!!

lol

youre tank looks AWESOME-its just hard to se it.

smpolyp · 05-03-2003, 01:34 AM

A reactors chamber needs a low pH to break down the media to deliver all elements that that media has. Silica is one of those elements. Maybe diatoms can take advantage of the silica first and it is just reminding us of a simple life form. Anyway no fear. Aquatic life needs many elements silica,phosephates these are just a couple. It is the excess that is the problem.

FISHme · 05-03-2003, 11:17 PM

Thanks guys , I hooked the intake to a mag and am going to give that a try.
Organic , I have thought about it also but I don't know if I can use a digital camera with web / msn tv.
I need to find out because these pics SUCK !!!!

Thanks smpolyp !!!

04-27-2003, 04:49 PM	#1
FISHme Council Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pompano Beach, Florida Posts: 495	Brown algae in Ca reactor ? Does anyone get this . I'm wondering if the reactor is working properly if this is happening. I dose pickling lime 24-7 along with the Korralin c 1501 . It is not located under a closed stand, it gets alot of direct light . Could this be the reason or could it be something else ? Attached Thumbnails __________________ FISH, FISHme or [\[\ark

04-27-2003, 11:59 PM	#4
FISHme Council Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pompano Beach, Florida Posts: 495	Rocky, I was using ARM but switched to Carib Sea Eco Marine Aragonite this past time (being cheap) Crushed coral. I didn't check the effluent recently but I did check the water in the reactor when I opened it and it was at 7.13 The tank runs 8.20 to 8.48. I cleaned it out and refilled it today . I might have to switch back to ARM next refill. Otherwise the corals are growing fine. Thanks for the replies guys !!! Attached Thumbnails __________________ FISH, FISHme or [\[\ark

04-29-2003, 07:49 PM	#5
ADS Hudson Valley Reefer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kingston,NY Posts: 46	Where is the reactor supply coming from? If your feed is from the tank directly prior to sump or skimmer you are seeding your reactor with microalgae/diatoms. I had this problem and changed the supply line to the sump thru a prefilter and the problem has not recurred. Adam __________________ A.Soyer Tridacna Reef Farmwww.Tridacnareef.com

04-29-2003, 11:38 PM	#6
FISHme Council Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pompano Beach, Florida Posts: 495	Thanks for the tip Adam. Yes, I am getting the return from one of the overflows from the tank . Good call !!!! I will try getting the return from the sump. Do you use a powerhead to feed your intake to the reactor ? I suppose I will need to do this. Thanks for the reply . __________________ FISH, FISHme or [\[\ark Last edited by FISHme; 04-29-2003 at 11:41 PM.

04-30-2003, 08:19 AM	#7
ADS Hudson Valley Reefer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kingston,NY Posts: 46	yes,I use an hagen 802 powerhead to feed a Korallin 3002. Adam __________________ A.Soyer Tridacna Reef Farmwww.Tridacnareef.com

04-27-2003, 10:54 PM	#2
smpolyp Tenant Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: orlando Posts: 57	When you say brown algae I think diatom algae. Diatom algae uses silicate to build its building structure. My best quess is your media has silicates and with the lower ph and direct light the diatoms are in heaven. I would think as long as the algae eats up the excess silicates it is helping to keep the tank from getting it.

04-27-2003, 11:08 PM	#3
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,315	Makes sense to me Russ.....Correct me if im wrong bro, but if a Calc. reactor is working correctly then the chemistry is ideal for NOT growing algae in because of the PH? Mark What type of media are you using? Have you measured the PH of your effluent?

04-30-2003, 07:26 PM	#8
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	fishme -ive though this a bunch of times in the past -and no offense-but you NEED TO GET A BETTER CAMER!!!! lol youre tank looks AWESOME-its just hard to se it.

05-03-2003, 01:34 AM	#9
smpolyp Tenant Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: orlando Posts: 57	A reactors chamber needs a low pH to break down the media to deliver all elements that that media has. Silica is one of those elements. Maybe diatoms can take advantage of the silica first and it is just reminding us of a simple life form. Anyway no fear. Aquatic life needs many elements silica,phosephates these are just a couple. It is the excess that is the problem.

05-03-2003, 11:17 PM	#10
FISHme Council Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pompano Beach, Florida Posts: 495	Thanks guys , I hooked the intake to a mag and am going to give that a try. Organic , I have thought about it also but I don't know if I can use a digital camera with web / msn tv. I need to find out because these pics SUCK !!!! Thanks smpolyp !!! __________________ FISH, FISHme or [\[\ark

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